THE
DREAM OF TANUATH-AMUN
Background
During
Ancient Egypt's decline, Nubian Pharaohs briefly sat on the Egyptian throne.
Unfortunately for the last Nubian ruler, Tanuath-Amun, Twenty-fifth dynasty
pharaoh of Egypt (668-661 BC), a greater power had surfaced in history: the
Assyrians. After barely seven
years of ruling Egypt, Tanuath-Amun heard the dreaded news that Ashurbanipal,
the Assyrian King, was invading with a great army. Upon hearing this news, Tanuath-Amun, conqueror of Lower
Egypt, fled into oblivion, the Assyrians conquered Egypt, and Egypt became in
the words of an Assyrian commander “a broken reed.”
A
portion of the hieroglyphics carved into Tanuath-Amun's Stele
has been depicted in the linked hieroglyphic board. In spite of its general accuracy, the board linked to this
document is an artistic inscription rather than an exact copy of an existing
artifact. Note the numbered
portions of the translated text, which correspond to the subsequent diagram
(translation key) also linked to this document. To follow the flow of hieroglyphic text (left to right) on
the board, translated subsequently, match the numbers of the translation to the
adjacent diagram.
To zoom in, click on the board. Then, to further enlarge it, click 
Translation
[1] His Majesty had a dream last night of two serpents: one on his right and one on his left. He then asked his counselors [2] “What is the meaning of my dream?” And they answered “the Land of the South is already yours. Now conquer the Land of the North.” [3] So His Majesty rose upon the throne of Horus and went forth to conquer the North. [4] A great multitude of men then came to him to follow him into battle. And His Majesty said “behold my dream has come true.” [5] No one could resist his advance. And His Majesty gave thanks to Amen-Ra, Lord of the Throne of the Two Lands, [6] offering Amen-Ra thirty-six oxen and forty vessels of beer. [7] He continued sailing down the river until reaching the temple of Khnemu-Ra and [8] offered the god there a great oblation of bread and beer.
Account of Tanuath Amun’s Dream (found at Gebal
Barkal)
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